Day 139: Who does he think he is ? - Luke 5 vs 17 - 26

17 One day as Jesus was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the Law sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present with Him to heal. 18-19 Some men came carrying on a stretcher a man who was paralysed, and they tried to bring him in and lay him down in front of Jesus. But finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus. 20 When Jesus saw their faith, He said, “Man, your sins are forgiven.”

21 The scribes and the Pharisees began to consider and question saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins except God alone?” 22 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, answered them, “Why are you questioning in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But, in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority and power on earth to forgive sins” - He said to the paralysed man, “I say to you, get up, pick up your stretcher and go home.” 25 He immediately stood up before them, picked up his stretcher, and went home glorifying and praising God.

26 They were all astonished, and they began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear and kept saying, “We have seen wonderful and incredible things today!” (From the Amplified Bible Translation)

This is probably one of the most well known miracles of Jesus. But, as with all his miracles, it wasn’t intended to entertain and impress the crowds. There was a reason he did it which is even more wonderful than the miracle itself. What do vs 18-19 tell us about the faith of this man's helpers that Jesus noticed in vs 20?

It's obvious they truly believed Jesus had the power to heal a man who was paralysed. That's remarkable. They were also not going to be put off by any obstacles. How often do we begin to hesitate and have doubts as soon as there are problems in the way of something we are seeking to do for the Lord. (Perhaps that's just me). I wonder what their thoughts were (and the paralysed man's) when Jesus said what he did in vs 20. Was that what they had come for?

The Pharisees and Law-teachers actually had a valid point in vs 21. But what is so significant about Jesus in vs 22 even before he went on to heal the man?

He knows the things we turn over in our heart. Some magicians have claimed to be 'mind-readers' – but only Jesus has ever truly done that. That in itself points to who he really is. In a Psalm spoken to God, King David said: “Lord, you have examined me and you know me. You know everything I do; from far away you understand all my thoughts . . . Even before I speak, you already know what I will say.” (Psalm 139:1-4) Which brings us to the reason for this miracle which we see in vs 23-25.

Words have always been easy. We can say all sorts of things which those who hear us may not be able to disprove. But Jesus backed up his words with an action that astonished everyone who saw it. Verse 26 describes the electric atmosphere that was in the room following the amazing healing they had seen with their own eyes. The fact that the man got up and walked showed that the other thing Jesus said about him must also have been true. His sins were forgiven! As he went away I'm sure that realisation was an even greater joy to him than the new found freedom he had in his body. What does this tell us about the gospel message?

I think the answer is in what Paul wrote to those who had become Christians. He says: “I give joyful thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” (Colossians 1:12-15) It's because of who he is that Jesus has the authority to forgive us our sins! If we’ve turned to God and truly put our trust in Jesus then, like that man who had been paralysed, our sins are forgiven.